Review: Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson
Series: Flirting in Italian #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for YR (Random House)
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: Edelweiss
Format: eARC
Pages: 336

Goodreads Summary:
Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Where is the second book? After that almost torturous ending I need to know how Violet's story will continue and therefore can't wait to get my greedy little hands on Flirting in Italian's sequel. This was a fun and quite cute story about being away from home for the first time and figuring out mysteries about your own past. Gorgeous guys and hot flirts included.

More detailed:

Following Violet's trip to Italy, where she wants to find out more about a painting of a girl who looks almost exactly like her, Flirting in Italian turned out to be a very cute and refreshing summer read that will brighten your mood instantly. If you don't know what to take to the beach with you, this should be your pick.

I actually expected Flirting in Italian to be a bit more of a mystery since Violet only went to Italy to find out more about that painting and her resemblance to its subject. But especially during the first half, or even two thirds, we were whisked away to the beautiful summer paradise in Italy. Lauren Henderson's beautiful style of writing made me feel like I were part of this group of girls, flirting with these boys and just enjoying a fun summer.

The characters in Flirting in Italian are really diverse and while I loved to hate some of them (especially those "thin-too-thin Itlian girls"), I loved our four protagonists. All of them are so perfectly flawed, which makes it a lot of fun witnessing their interactions. Sadly though, I had a hard time figuring out Violet's love interest, who's one of the hottest guys we meet but also a bit mean from time to time.

All in all, Flirting in Italian delivers on its fun summary and cute cover. While I expected (and actually hoped for) a bit more mystery, it still was quite exciting and raised many questions that I can't wait for to be answered. The wait until its sequel's publication will be a small torture after that slight cliffhanger, but if you're looking for a cute contemporary be sure to add it to your to-read list.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Buy the book:
Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

Have you read Flirting in Italian? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Carina

Cover Comparisons #61: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Living in Germany gives me the perfect opportunity to compare original covers with the ones German publishers choose. Sometimes they're gorgeous, sometimes they make me cringe, but it's always interesting to see different covers for the same novel.

Cover Comparisons is a weekly feature here at Fictional Distraction.

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  Slide by Jennifer E. Smith

(US / UK / GER)
You can click on each cover to enlarge it.

Before I found out about the German cover, the US version was definitely my favorite. While I got used to the UK version, there's still something weird about the cover model's surprised expression that would never make me want to pick up this book in a store (love the color scheme though). The US cover though is really pretty and still somewhat unique in the YA cover world. But I'm sooo in love with the German cover. The effect of the girl's crumbling face is creepy and awesome at the same time and would make me want to know more about the book immediately

Which version do you like best?

USUKGER

pollcode.com free polls

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Last week's winner is the US cover of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith.

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Which version did you vote for? Why?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
Carina

In Which I Am Dissed by the Washington Post

It seems my recent column on Bryce Harper and "Clown Question, bro" drew the attention of  Washington Post sports columnist Dan Steinberg: 

The awesomely named lawyer wrote a column on Bryce Harper for the Southern Pines (N.C.) Pilot. Filing his dispatch from outer space, Rhoades noted “the rise and fall of the catch phrase ‘That’s a clown question, bro,’ which apparently was coined, had its vogue, and was declared dead in the course of a week. And I seem to have missed the whole thing.

“It seems there’s a young player for baseball’s Washington Nationals named Bryce Harper.”

Indeed. It seems there is.

Mr. Steinberg was apparently amused and/or miffed by the fact that I felt the need to explain who Bryce Harper is. Sorry, Dan. As I've said before, politics is my baseball. (Actually, it's "politics is my football," but it's the same idea). 

But thanks for the shout out, Mr. Steinberg. Glad you like the name! 

Waiting on Wednesday #64

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Tor Teen
Expected Publication: March 5th, 2013
Pages: 352

Goodreads Summary:
16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell.

And then it comes true.

Now the Dusty has to follow the clues--both within Eli’s dreams and out of them--to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Okay, does this awesome synopsis make The Nightmare Affair sound unique or unique? Wow - I seriously can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this, because it sounds creepy, sexy and oh-so-amazing. Is it March 2013 yet?

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?
Carina

Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #2
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 418

Goodreads Summary:

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

As this series is the spin-off of one of my favorite series, I've been incredibly excited to get to The Golden Lily and luckily didn't end up disappointed. It was another awesome installment, full of mystery and a slow paced but passionate romance that I can't wait to read more of. My hands are already itching for the third book of this series and my heart is craving even more Adrian.

More detailed:

The Bloodlines series couldn't be more different from the Vampire Academy series, but at the same time it couldn't be more similar. Set in the same world with some of our all-time favorite characters, there's not much to miss. But simultaneously we have a completely different main character, who gives this story a very unique feeling and distinguishes both series perfectly.

Sydney is definitely no Rose Hathaway, but she's brave in her own - more modest - way. I absolutely love witnessing her development, which is subtle enough to be believable but still noticable. Her narration is easy to follow and never gets boring, making it easy to keep turning The Golden Lily's pages and never realizing that you're slowly coming to an end.

The other characters are, of course, amazing as well. Every time Adrian made an appearance, I made a small imaginary happy-dance, swooning at his charm and trying to make Sydney see that she likes him more that she wants to admit. But there are still so many other awesome characters that all add their own flavor to the story, so it never gets boring.

Usually I despise slow-paced books, but it works oh-so-well with the Bloodlines series. The things that happen in The Golden Lily are a wonderful progress and make sure that no relationships are rushed, no mysteries solved too easily and that whatever happens stays believable. Nonetheless I can't wait for the future books to find out where Richelle Mead will take these fabulous characters.

All in all, I'm happy that this author never fails to amaze me. Along with the Vampire Academy series, I've now read eight books set in this world and I still can't get enough - and I don't think that I'll ever tire of Moroi, dhampirs and Alchemists (or Adrian). If you haven't read this yet, stop wasting your time reading reviews and buy copies of these books immediately. They're a must-read and The Golden Lily just proved it again.

Have you read The Golden Lily? What did you think about it?
Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Carina

Fictional Distractions of the Week #35

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

The first book on next week's tbr-pile for me is All These Lives by Sarah Wylie, which I've heard good things about and can't wait to read myself. It sounds very mysterious and captivating, so I really hope that my expectations will be met.

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away. To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one.

After that I'll be reading Wings of Arian by Devri Walls, whose blog tour is coming up and I'm sooooo excited. Not only do I love this cover, but this summary is über-awesome and I just can't wait to start reading this book!

Goodreads Summary:

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

I'm also planning, or at least hoping, to start Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton, in whose blog tour I'll also be participating. This is another awesome book I've been looking forward to read ever since I first read its summary and I just hope that it'll turn out to be as awesome as I'm expecting it to be.

Goodreads Summary:

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Determined to find out what happened to her mother, Triss uncovers cryptic messages that lead her to the dark side of magic that she never wanted to believe existed. Forced on a journey that may not give her the answers she was hoping for, it's up to Triss not to fall victim to the realm of Lonely Souls.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

 

JUSTICE is coming.

Spread the word.

No More Clown Questions, Bro (UPDATED)

Latest Newspaper Column: 

One of my all-time favorite science fiction short stories is R.A. Lafferty's "Slow Tuesday Night." The basic premise of the story is that humanity has removed a mental block that slowed down action and decision-making, and people now live at a freakishly accelerated clip.

"Transportation and manufacturing had then become practically instantaneous," Lafferty writes. "Things that had once taken months and years now took only minutes and hours. A person could have one or several pretty intricate careers within an eight-hour period." One character makes and loses four fortunes in the course of the night, "not the little fortunes that ordinary men acquire, but titanic things."

The story's a clever satire on how life seems to keep moving faster - and it was written in 1965. One wonders what Lafferty would make of the speed of life now. We haven't quite gotten to the insane pace of his fictional world yet, but sometimes things happen that make it seem like it's not that far off.

The most recent example is the rise and fall of the catch phrase "That's a clown question, bro," which apparently was coined, had its vogue, and was declared dead in the course of a week. And I seem to have missed the whole thing.

It seems there's a young player for baseball's Washington Nationals named Bryce Harper. Harper, after hitting a game-winning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays, was being interviewed in the locker room. A Canadian reporter stepped forward and asked, "Bryce, you know, in Canada you're of legal drinking age. A celebratory Canadian beer would seem to make sense after a hit like that. Favorite beer?"

Now, as noted above, Bryce is a young fellow. Nineteen, to be exact. And he's a Mormon to boot, so drinking beer, Canadian or otherwise, is not likely to be on his agenda. The team's PR man tried to step in, but Harper fielded the question (so to speak) with an aplomb far beyond his years. Giving the reporter a disgusted look, he delivered the smackdown: "I'm not going to answer that. That's a clown question, bro."



Of such humble beginnings, it seems, are Internet memes born. Within a day, "clown question, bro" became the top "trending topic" on Twitter. T-shirts appeared for sale with the catch phrase on them. A beer company in Denver - called, appropriately enough, the Denver Beer Company - announced that it was bringing out a Canadian-style lager called "Clown Question, Bro."
It's too bad, I guess, that Harper didn't have the presence of mind to immediately contact an intellectual property lawyer and have his phrase trademarked. Or perhaps not. *

Because a week later, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was being quizzed by a reporter regarding President Obama's announcement that the administration would not be trying to deport the children of illegal immigrants who were of good moral character and didn't pose a threat to national security. The reporter asked if Reid intended to bring the defunct DREAM Act back to the Senate (where it had been strangled in its crib by Republican filibusters) to "put people on the record." Reid paused for a long while, then smiled and told the reporter, "That's a clown question, bro."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 
At that point, blogger Dan Amira of New York Magazine declared the phrase dead after only seven days, "the victim of a brutal and obviously premeditated attack" by Reid - who was, Amira said with tongue planted firmly in cheek, under investigation for "meme-slaughter."

I guess if an old politician like Reid is saying something, it can't possibly be cool anymore. Kind of a shame, actually. "Clown question, bro" is the perfect dismissal for those questions that are just too stupid or slanted to be answered any other way. Like the now-standard "Isn't this (insert absolutely anything the president does or says from now till November) just being done for political gain?"

Maybe if Sarah Palin had answered Katie Couric's "What newspapers do you read?" with "That's a clown question, bro," she would have seemed less dimwitted. At least until the next question.

But who knows? Maybe the reports of its death are premature. Maybe the phrase will go on and have a long and happy life in our culture. I hope so. And I hope I can keep up with the next thing to come along.

*UPDATE: It seems I spoke too soon. 

New Distractions #06

New Distractions is a weekly feature on Fictional Distraction, inspired by various memes that make us share the new books we got during a week, e.g. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, This Week in Books by Pop Culture Junkie and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews.

The books I received this week:

Bought:

The Golden Lily

´For review:

Meant to Be | Through to You | Lonely Souls

Huge thanks to Random House (via NetGalley), HarperCollins (via Edelweiss), and Karice Bolton.

I finally have a bit more time to read and already used that to devour The Golden Lily. My review for it will be up on Tuesday and wow - I need the third book now! I definitely need more Adrian, especially after the ending, which was perfect and heart-breaking / frustrating at the same time. 

I also freaked out a little bit with happiness when I got approved for Meant to Be because I've been dying to read this one. And I'm just as excited for Through to You and Lonely Souls which both sound soooo awesome!

Which books did you get last week?

Carina

My Interview With Authors On The Air

 The wonderfully energetic Ann White and Pam Stack interview yours truly on their on-air podcast, Authors On The Air on  Blog Talk Radio.  Check it out.

Review: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
First published: May 8th, 2012
Source: Received from publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 304

Goodreads Summary:

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

My Rating: 4.0  / 5

First thoughts:

Growing up, having dates and figuring out what's important for you isn't the easiest thing we're confronted with in life and that's exactly what Amy is going through. With an overbearing mother, questionable friends and a disastrous prom night she ends up believing that her life is over. At times heart-breaking but told by a really likable and witty protagonist Pretty Amy is a really awesome contemporary novel.

More detailed:

Pretty Amy isn't even close as light-hearted as the summary might make you believe. I found it to be a fairly heavy read, but nonetheless very eye-opening and hard to put down. After a disastrous prom night Amy finds herself arrested along with her "best friends" and all of sudden her life is completely changed - or over, as Amy seems to believe.

I'm pretty sure that fans of Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler will love Pretty Amy as well. They're both dealing with teenagers who all of sudden are in contact with the law system and have to change their life in order to save themselves from huge consequences. And their main characters are both entertainingly witty and sarcastic.

While I really enjoyed reading the story from Amy's point of view, because Lisa Burstein's writing style makes it so easy to understand Amy, I had lots of problems liking the other characters. At certain points it seemed like  we were witnessing Amy's fight against the rest of the world and it can be a bit tiring for me, if a main character doesn't get to experience any uplifting moments.

All in all, I enjoyed reading Pretty Amy though. I felt constantly sad for Amy, wanted to scream at her parents, her lawyer, and her friends and crossed my fingers for her happy ending. If you're looking for a thought-provoking contemporary coming-of-age story, be sure to add Pretty Amy to your to-read list, but be aware that while there is a bit of romance, the focus is on Amy dealing with the consequences of her prom night.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012
2012 Debut Author Challenge

Buy a copy Pretty Amy:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read Pretty Amy? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina

Cover Comparisons #60: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Living in Germany gives me the perfect opportunity to compare original covers with the ones German publishers choose. Sometimes they're gorgeous, sometimes they make me cringe, but it's always interesting to see different covers for the same novel.

Cover Comparisons is a weekly feature here at Fictional Distraction.

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The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

(US / UK new hardcover / UK old hardcover / UK paperback / GER)
You can click on each cover to enlarge it.

First I probably should mention how much I love The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and if you haven't read it yet, go ahead and buy a copy right now! I also really like its covers, although my favorite is definitely the new UK hardcover copy (which is also what I have sitting on my shelf). While it's almost identical to the US cover, I love the bluish tint to it, which makes it look a little bit more alive. The old UK cover is okay, but it doesn't really look like a Young Adult novel, but more like a Chick Lit one. The UK paperback cover looks really cute and is probably going to make a lot of readers pick it up, because it looks like a perfect summer read. I'm not really sure about the German cover though - it is definitely unique with its muted colors and pretty, but I'm not exactly sure whether it'd catch my eye in a store.

Which version do you like best?

USUK new hardcoverUK old hardcoverUK paperbackGER

pollcode.com free polls

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Last week's result is a tie between the US and the UK cover of Fated by Alyson Noel.

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Let me know which version you voted for and why?!
Carina

Waiting on Wednesday #63

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Linked by Imogen Howson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Expected Publication: 2013
Pages: 330

Goodreads Summary:
Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.

I can't even think of a way to express just how much I looooove this cover. Isn't it gorgeous and so unique? I could keep staring at it and it would definitely be enough reason to buy this book. But the summary is just as amazing and I wish it were out already - I don't want to wait until 2013 to get my hands on a copy of this!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?
Carina

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Series: Lies Beneath #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for YR (Random House)
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 303

Goodreads Summary:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Introducing its readers to a dark world of evil merpeople, Lies Beneath is a captivating story of finding a balance between your need for revenge and the magic of true love. And even though I had a few problems to connect with the protagonists, I couldn't stop reading and can't wait to see what will happen in the second book of this series. 

More detailed:

I've been really excited about reading a book with a different kind of merpeople lore, because I think that their evilness and cruelty works really well for creatures that are living in the dark depths of lakes and oceans. And it definitely didn't disappoint: these mermaids (and mermen) are evil and kill humans to survive - and sometimes just because they want to.

Lies Beneath is told from Calder's point of view and considering that we don't get a male perspective that often in Young Adult novels, it was a refreshing change. He's a merman and therefore has some darker sides, but nonetheless he's a somewhat likeable protagonist. His character development throughout the story is definitely interesting to witness.

His love story is one of the forbidden kind, which are my favorite ones. Falling in love with the daughter of the man Calder and his sisters have vowed to kill is the perfect way to ensure that readers will keep turning Lies Beneath's pages and cross their fingers for the unlikely couple to get their happy ending. 

And while I really like the plot line and Anne Greenwood Brown's style of writing, I sadly had a few small problems truly feeling for these characters. I can't even explain exactly why, because all in all Lies Beneath had everything I want in a book. It's just an overall feeling that made me not like it enough for a four star (or higher) rating.

But if you've thinking about giving this book a chance, don't hesitate and get a copy. I'll definitely read the second book of this series as well and might even get a finished copy. Mermaids are a really lovely trend in 2012 and Anne Greenwood Brown's take on them is refreshing and slightly addicting.

Have you read Lies Beneath? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina

Author Interview + Giveaway: Cicada by Belle Whittington (Blog Tour Stop)

Today I'm really happy to be welcoming the lovely Belle Whittington, author of the Young Adult science fiction novel Cicada on my blog again. You can read my review for her really well written story here or read a Christmas short story set in its world here. Also don't forget to check the end of this post for two very awesome giveaways.

This post is part of Cicada's blog tour,

hosted by AToMR Book Blog Tours.

Cicada is labeled as paranormal/sci-fi/mystery/romance. That’s a unique combination! Can you tell readers a bit more about the genre mash-up?

It is a unique combination, that’s for sure! But I think that’s what makes it so compelling and gives it a taste of authenticity. After all, in real life we are often faced with a combination of challenges, and so it is with the characters in Cicada. To begin with, I wanted readers to be able to step into the story … to feel compelled to enter the world in which Blair and her friends live. So there’s a bit of mystery, something to give the readers a longing for more. The paranormal/sci-fi part goes hand-in-hand. After all, there are aliens in Cicada. But this part of the combination does not overwhelm the story. It merely flavors it, sprinkling it with that bit of spice without chasing off readers. In regards to the paranormal part, I hope readers pick up on the hint that there’s something different about some of the characters … something not quite human. The romance part … well I’ll have to leave that for the readers to discover. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers. However, I will say that there is a bit of romance, a splash of sugar to the recipe to sweeten it a little. Voila! What’s left is a story to appease every taste!

What books have most influenced your life?

I’m not even sure I can answer this question, because I don’t have any one favorite! Of course I love Jane Austen! Who doesn’t? Getting past that, there are so many others! For instance, Suzanne Collins rocked my world with her Hunger Games trilogy! After I finished Mocking Jay, the characters stayed with me night and day until I picked the trilogy up and reread it!

Then there’s Beth Revis and her awesome Across the Universe series! I was completely engrossed with the first two books, and I cannot wait for the next one! Not only are her characters compelling, but the world she created aboard Godspeed is unique and fresh.

Likewise, Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Glow was enthralling. The twist in her story literally caused me to gasp out loud when I read it! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel to her novel!

It goes without saying that I love J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series! I still wish I could have gone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

As you can see, I could go on and on… so many terrific authors, so little time! And, just about with every book I read, I add another favorite author to my list! For instance, I’m reading Once by Anne Carey, so you can imagine that I’ll be adding it to my favorites soon!

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading Once by Anna Carey. It’s the sequel to Eve. I’m really enjoying it! I’d suggest anyone who likes dystopian books to give it a read … especially those readers who enjoyed Matched, Glow, and Hunger Games. Ms. Carey is a terrific storyteller.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

My favorite thing to do when I’m not writing is promoting Cicada. I think the reason that it’s my favorite thing to do is that I’m meeting so many fabulous people along the way and have made so many new friends. First and foremost would be all those lovely book bloggers who have been so kind and have helped me promote my book! I adore each and every one of them! Plus, I’m getting to meet my readers, and that is an awesome experience! For every reader who contacts me, I’m reminded of why I write! For the pure love of it!

Is there anything in Cicada that readers may not pick up that you would like to point out?

I would like for readers to think about why the book is titled Cicada as they are reading the book. What do cicadas do when they come of age? They come out of their shells and transform into a different part of themselves so that they can survive the world into which they are entering.

Giveaway 1

This giveaway is international - there are 12 eBook copies of Cicada available for 12 lucky winners. Don't miss your chance to read this imaginative novel.

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Giveaway 2

This giveaway is US only - Belle is giving away an electronic firefly in a jar in honor of the series' second novel Firefly. You can see a video of the jar here.

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Fictional Distractions of the Week #34

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

The first book of this week's tbr-pile is Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein, which I've also already started reading today and really like the first 13%. I can't wait to see where this story will go and really hope to finish it soon.

Goodreads Summary:

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

My copy of The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead will arrive on Monday and since I've been trying really hard to reduce my review pile, I'm going to allow myself and finally read one of my own books - and I can't wait for this one. Oh, Adrian - I've missed you!

Goodreads Summary:
Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Then I'll be going back to my pile of review books and read Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson. I've been hearing pretty good things about this one and can't wait to find out whether it's the awesome summer read I'm expecting it to be.

Goodreads Summary:

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

 

If Romney Ads Just Told the Truth

Latest Newspaper Column:

The 1990 movie "Crazy People" stars Dudley Moore as an ad executive who suffers a nervous breakdown and starts writing ads based on honesty about what the products are really about.Ads like: "Metamucil: It Helps You Go to the Toilet. If You Don't Use It, You'll Get Cancer and Die." And "Jaguar: For Men Who'd Like [sex] From Beautiful Women They Hardly Know."

After his bosses have Moore's character committed to an insane asylum, the ads accidentally get released to the public and become runaway hits. The bosses, after finding out that they can't replicate Moore's success, turn to him and his fellow inmates to create ads for the new "honesty in advertising" craze.
I think about that movie a lot when watching political ads. I wonder what would happen if "honesty in advertising" took hold in the Romney campaign:

VOICEOVER: Mitt Romney. Some liberals call him a flip-flopper. He was for a path to citizenship for illegals, then he was against it. He opposed amendments to define marriage as between one man and one woman, then supported them. He supported a universal mandate for people to buy health insurance, then called it socialism. He said he was a moderate "through and through," and now he says he's "severely conservative." Sometimes, even he can't remember what his positions are.

ROMNEY: "I'm not familiar precisely with exactly what I said, but I stand by what I said, whatever it was."



VOICEOVER: But there's one thing Mitt Romney is consistent about and always has been. He's a Republican. Barack Obama isn't a Republican. So there.

BANNER: Mitt Romney. Vote for him. Because he's the Republican.

ROMNEY: I'm Mitt Romney, and I approved this message. At least for now.

Or how about this one:

VOICEOVER: Some liberals say Mitt Romney has a problem with the truth. He's claimed that Barack Obama didn't say it was unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and that military options were still on the table.

OBAMA: "When I say we're not taking any option off the table, we mean it. ... I think both the Iranian and the Israeli governments recognize that when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say."

VOICEOVER: He's claimed that his position on the auto industry bailout was "exactly what President Obama followed." But in 2009, he wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times urging lawmakers to "let Detroit go bankrupt."

VISUAL: Picture of newspaper headline: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt by Mitt Romney."

VOICEOVER: He claimed that Barack Obama never mentioned the deficit or the debt in the State of the Union Address when he mentioned it six times.

VISUAL: Clips of President Obama talking about the deficit and the debt in his Jan. 24, 2012, State of the Union Speech. Fade to the Politifact website's "Pants on Fire" symbol.

VOICEOVER: But there's one thing you can trust about Mitt Romney: He, you know, looks like you. And Barack Obama is ... well, you know.

BANNER: Mitt Romney. Vote for him. He may be a liar, but he's not ... well, you know.

ROMNEY: I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve of this message. If you don't, then you're just calling everyone racist who doesn't agree with you.

Or this:

VOICEOVER: Some liberals, like the ones who write The Wall Street Journal's "Market Watch," say that Massachusetts under Mitt Romney was 47th in the nation in job creation. That during his tenure, Massachusetts' job growth was at 0.9 percent, far behind the national average of more than 5 percent. Some other liberals have said that Romney's top economic adviser has said that outsourcing American jobs to other countries is a "good thing." Meanwhile, under President Obama, we've had two years of positive job growth after suffering massive losses under the last Republican president. Liberals say these things, and ... well, yeah, they're true. But you should ignore all that and vote for Mitt Romney anyway, because he knows how to create jobs. Because he says he does.

BANNER: Mitt Romney. Never mind the facts. He'll create jobs this time. Really.

This is, after all, the essence of the messages I keep hearing from so-called conservatives turned born-again Romneyites: "Yeah, we don't really like him, but he's not Obama." Why not be up front about it?

Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Timepiece by Myra McEntire
Series: Hourglass #2
Publisher: Egmont USA
First published: June 12th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 336

Goodreads Summary:

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

Click here to read my review for Hourglass.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Following Kaleb's point of view, Timepiece gives us the chance to get to know some other characters better. It took a while for me to get back into the story, but once I did, it was hard to put down - and now I can't wait to see what Myra McEntire plans to do next. With an interesting time travel concept, I'd recommend this series to everyone who's looking for a very refreshing paranormal story. 

More detailed:

After having loved the first book Hourglass so much, my expectations for its sequel were pretty high. Sadly I have to say that they weren't completely met, because I definitely didn't feel as passionately about the second installment of this series as I did about the first. Nonetheless it was a very enjoyable read and I am dying to find out what will happen now.

At first I had some problems getting back into the story. I probably should have re-read Hourglass first, because I only had vague memories about what important things had happened. But after a while I remembered the most important things and felt more comfortable following the story - nonetheless I'd recommend you to read a recap of the first book if your mind betrays you like mine.

I was definitely looking forward to the story being told from Kaleb's point of view, because I really adored him in the first book. Honestly, I had expected a (little) love triangle, but for those of you who hate them, let me tell you not to worry - there's is no real love triangle, but Kaleb manages to find love nonetheless.

The character development mostly focused on Kaleb and his love interest and while this was very interesting to witness, I was a bit disappointed that the rest of the characters didn't appear as often as I wanted them to. Besides that I'm very happy with how the main plotline turned out and found it quite hard to put my Kindle away during certain scenes, constantly wishing for a happy ending.

Those of you who enjoyed the first book should definitely pick up Timepiece. It might not have been as awesome as Hourglass for me, but this series still has a special place in my heart and I hope to get my hands on a copy of the third installment as soon as possible. If you haven't read this series yet - why are you still reading this review? Go ahead and get a copy of the first book right now.

Have you read Timepiece? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina

Cover Comparisons #59: Fated by Alyson Noel

Living in Germany gives me the perfect opportunity to compare original covers with the ones German publishers choose. Sometimes they're gorgeous, sometimes they make me cringe, but it's always interesting to see different covers for the same novel.

Cover Comparisons is a weekly feature here at Fictional Distraction.

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Fated by Alyson Noel

(US / UK / GER)

When I first saw covers for Fated, I definitely preferred the US cover. I still like its cover most, but with time I've come to appreciate the image cropping of the UK cover a lot more. There's a bit too much negative space on the US cover for my taste. I don't really like the German cover at all - while the colours are pretty, too, I think that the overall composition is a bit weird. All in all, my definite favorite is the UK cover although I'd love to see it with the US coloring.

Which version do you like best?

USUKGER

pollcode.com free polls

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Last week's winner is the US cover of Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay.

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Which version did you vote for? Why?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
Carina

Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha Trilogy #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan)
First published: June 5th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 368

Goodreads Summary:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Living up to the hype surrounding it, Shadow and Bone turned out to be a captivating novel, set in an imaginative world of magic, darkness and a young girl's journey to find out where she truly belongs. Despite a somewhat slow start, I couldn't help but fall in love with this story and can't wait to find out what Alina will experience in the second novel of this really intriguing series.

More detailed:

When it comes to books which are being hyped a lot, I'm always quite skeptical. Often they can't live up to my expectations and I end up being disappointed. Luckily Shadow and Bone doesn't fall into that category and surprised me with its uniqueness and magical world-building. If you are just as afraid as I had been that you might be disappointed, give this book a chance - it lived up to its reputation.

At first though, I needed some time to get into the story, which is probably the reason why I didn't feel like giving this five stars. I often have that problem with fantasy and / or historical settings, because the world the characters live in is so different from what I'm used to. But after a few chapters I felt more comfortable in this world and was sucked into it.

Shadow and Bone's protagonist Alina is a feisty but relatable young girl who's leading a not-so-perfect life, but seems to be able to deal with it nonetheless. An unrequited crush and the fear of the Shadow Fold plague her, but nonetheless she's "normal." At least until she realizes that there's more to her and that she possesses a power many people will be interested in.

I completely adore the Grisha mythology, which builds the foundation for Shadow and Bone. Adding Alina's experiences in their world, Leigh Bardugo has weaved an addicting tale of political intrigues and magic, making it hard to guess what might happen next and therefore difficult to put this first book of a trilogy down.

All in all, Shadow and Bone ended up being just as awesome as I expected it to be. With a bittersweet love story, which frustrated me just as much as it made me want to swoon, and a unique world-building, I'm sure that the Grisha trilogy will be on my favorite-lists. Personally, I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel and I'm hoping that Leigh Bardugo will continue to surprise me with her ideas.

Challenge(s):

Debut Author Challenge 2012

Have you read Shadow and Bone? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina